Chapter 47: Guests Arrive Like Returning Home

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  Following Li Shimin, Qin Mubai and others entered the emperor's harem, where 'the flowers are gradually entering the eyes of the people'. This is the place where the most beautiful women in the Tang Dynasty are gathered. Even a small palace maid must be of national color and heavenly fragrance level. Who knows, one day Li Shimin might take a liking to her, and she would be favored for a time. If she accidentally becomes pregnant with the dragon seed, from then on, it's possible that even chickens and dogs will rise to heaven.

  Qin Mubai increasingly believed that what he said was the truth: under this sky, the more excellent males occupy more females.

  "With the three palaces, six courts and seventy-two concubines, plus these palace maidservants, it's possible that the three thousand beauties in the harem aren't just a myth. Li Shimin, he isn't afraid of being worn down like an iron pestle grinding into a needle?" Qin Mubai thought to herself with some mischievous intent.

  Tonight, the Emperor arrived at Taihe Hall and favored Yang Shufei.

  Yang Shufei, also the daughter of Emperor Yang Guang of the previous dynasty and the mother of Li Ke, Yang Shi. This woman with a noble bloodline was taken in by Li Shimin when he conquered Luoyang, it has been over twenty years now. Calculating, she is also a woman in her thirties or forties, but still very favored.

  It is said that when Empress Zhangsun was alive, she was the only one who was irreplaceable and the most favored woman, and also the emperor's most important virtuous assistant. Even Emperor Taizong of Tang treated her as a prime minister without a crown. Next to her was this Consort Yang.

  Yang Shufei was born into a royal family and received good education from an early age, knowledgeable in books and etiquette, gentle and elegant, but most importantly, she had a beautiful face and a heavenly fragrance.

  Inside the Daming Palace, it was guarded by the Imperial Guards, with extremely strict vigilance. Each palace gate and hall had sentries, and the entire imperial palace was brightly lit throughout the night. The Taihe Hall where Li Shimin was located was guarded by a hundred cavalrymen. Anyone who dared to approach here without being summoned at this time would be killed by the hundred cavalrymen without asking for their reasons.

  At dawn, Zhang Sunyan and Wei Chibao brought people to change shifts. Qin Mubai and Cheng Huaiyi led the soldiers who had been on night duty back to the camp, where they fell fast asleep.

  The first day of formal work for the hundred riders has come to an end without any mistakes. From Qin Mubai down, all the generals and lieutenants let out a sigh of relief. With time, as long as everyone gets used to this kind of work, everything will be on the right track.

  Qin Mubai, it's been three months since he left the army. In a few days, the troops can start arranging vacations in shifts. Qin Mubai thought about it and felt that he should also go home to rest. Over the past three months, which of his subordinates had not been worn out? And as the highest commander, he had to set an example at all times, teaching many skills, each one surpassing all his generals, making him the most tired in training. In addition, there were many military and political affairs to deal with.

  I'm exhausted!

  A few days later, Qin Mubai was granted a four-day leave. As he left the military camp with several officers who were also on vacation, everyone let out a sigh of relief at the same time.

  Everyone was like a tightly strung string, finally relaxed.

  After leaving the palace, everyone went their separate ways. Qin Mubai's apprentice, Pang Fei, insisted on going to the Qin family to pay his respects to "Master" Qin Shubao, and Qin Mubai allowed it, taking him along. In recent days, Pang Fei, who was clever and willing to work hard, had indeed not disappointed Qin Mubai. This young man always thought that as Qin Mubai's apprentice, he must be stronger than others. Therefore, he practiced the most diligently and with the greatest hardship. Furthermore, Qin Mubai privately gave him special training in secret, and now he has become an outstanding figure in the Hundred Riders Army.

  The other day, he was the first in the elimination assessment. As a result, he took over as the captain of a team that had been eliminated and became a small military officer, also considered a figure among the hundred riders.

  Two people walked to the western city, leading their horses and admiring the bustling market. Although the military camp was not lacking in passion and blood, it was a bit monotonous and dull after all. After leaving the palace, Qin Mubai felt like a country boy entering a big city, with a dizzying feeling of being dazzled by the colorful world.

  "Master, look! Is that the 'Best Wine in the World'?" Pang Fei pointed to a large wine shop, saying with great envy and admiration, "It's really famous! I've heard Li Junxian talk about it before. In today's Chang'an City, if you haven't been to the Best Wine in the World, you can't even say you're a somebody. It's said that this is where royalty, nobles, high officials, talented scholars, and wealthy merchants gather. Even a cup of ordinary tea here costs dozens of times more than outside; even a servant girl washing dishes must be a stunning beauty; even the fodder for horses is extremely fine and expensive, far surpassing what ordinary people eat at home."

  "Haha, you little rascal, just pay attention to these things. Li Junxian that guy, doesn't teach you any good stuff." Qin Mubai raised his hand and casually pointed at the store front, "How about it, want to go in and have some fun?"

  "What? Master, you're not joking, are you?" Pang Fei clicked his tongue, "This is considered the most expensive tavern in the world! The salaries of our hundred riders are already high, but according to Li Junxian, my team's half-year salary can only afford a cup and two songs here, and we can't stay for too long. Let's not do it, it's too expensive... Hehe!"

  "Haha, it's your turn to pay, huh?" Qin Mubai raised his hand and said, "Come on, follow me in!"

  Pang Fei swallowed a mouthful of saliva and steeled himself: "If Master is so enthusiastic... then disciple will treat!"

  "Cut the crap, let's go."

  As soon as the two men walked to the front of the store, a shop assistant came up to greet them. As soon as he saw Qin Mubai, he suddenly widened his eyes and bowed down to kowtow: "So it's Master Qin! I've been waiting every day, and finally, you've arrived! Please come in, please come in, today is the best day for the number one wine in the world, and our boss will definitely be overjoyed!"

  "You have a good memory and eyesight, but you talk too much." Qin Mu Bai smiled and handed the whip to the little servant, giving him a few copper coins, saying, "Old rules, the best fodder is waiting for you. Pang Fei, let's go."

  Pang Fei excitedly ran up: "Master, so you're a regular here! No wonder, hehe!"

  "Are you a regular customer? I've only been here once." Qin Mubai smiled and walked into the wine shop without saying a word.

  The wine shop is lively. In the main hall, there are many people surrounding a pipa player, drinking and playing music. Many of them have drunk to the point of having red faces, each with an intoxicated expression, completely immersed in the pipa melody.

  Qin Mubai couldn't help but shake his head and smile: Isn't this the tune of "The Hegemon's Armor"? Wu Meiniang, oh Wu Meiniang, you're really good at making money!

  The two had just stood still when several beautiful women in Hu attire came up to them: "Ah! So it's Master Qin!"

  "Hurry! Master Qin has arrived, quickly go and invite the master of the house!"

  "Hurry up and take your seat! Mr. Qin, this gentleman, please come quickly!"

  "Hurry and invite the three immortals together!"

  ……

  A group of beautiful young men suddenly became busy. Some ran up and down to arrange the banquet, some went to invite people, or waited on Qin Mubai with affectionate service in front of and behind him. The scene was as if they were maids at home, while Qin Mubai was the returning master of the house.

  Pang Fei, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old young man, suddenly saw so many beautiful women at once and was stunned, his face turning bright red. Seeing this scene, he was immediately shocked and could hardly believe his eyes.

  "Ah, Ah Shifu, are you familiar with the master of this house?"

  "It's okay, I guess."

  "This...the disciple doesn't have much money on him, how about selling the horse?"

  "It's not that serious, is it?"

  "Master, don't you know? The 'Three Fairy Maidens' are the top three red cards of the world's number one wine! Three beautiful and talented women, their beauty is a given, but their exceptional pipa skills are renowned throughout Chang'an City! It's said that even the imperial court's music director, Zeng, only dares to address them as equals, not daring to precede them. And I've also heard that the emperor himself has expressed interest in summoning these three women to perform in the palace. I remember Li Junxian telling us that many high-ranking officials and nobles have come to invite the 'Three Fairy Maidens' to perform at their residences, but sometimes they decline. Some people even personally came to the world's number one wine to listen to them play, only to find out that there were already more high-ranking officials and nobles inside the shop competing for the fairy maidens' performances. So, even if a person with great influence spent a lot of money, they could at most invite only one fairy maiden to perform! How...how did you...call three of them over?"

  "Haha! What Three Fairies, just three silly girls!" Qin Mubai laughed loudly and walked upstairs with big strides. The two running attendants, Mei Ji, covered their mouths and giggled, saying to Pang Fei, "This brother of yours knows a lot! You're right, even if some prince came, it's not necessarily guaranteed that the three fairies would gather on stage to perform together. Because maybe another prince or prime minister is listening to them play music. But Qin Gongzi is no ordinary person. As long as he comes, even if he doesn't say a word, the Three Fairies will definitely come to pay their respects."

  "Goodbye? See you later?" Pang Fei's eyes widened and he stopped in his tracks, momentarily forgetting to go up the stairs.

  "Come on, silly boy, I won't make you sell your body. Haha!" Qin Mu Bai laughed loudly.

  Two beautiful women led Qin Mu Bai to the most luxurious, comfortable and quiet elegant room, saying: "Young Master Qin, this is a special room reserved by the host for the reception of the most honored guests."

  "What's so noble? What kind of noble big shots have been here?" Qin Mubai smiled and asked casually.

  "For example, Taizi Shao Shi Yu Zhi Ning, Guozi Boshi Da Hong Ru Kong Yingda, Fuma Duiwei Changsun Chong, Fang Xuanling's son Fang Yiai, Wu Wang Li Ke... and also Wei Wang Li Tai."

  Pang Fei heard this long string of names and was momentarily stunned. Qin Mu Bai heard the last name and couldn't help but frown slightly: "The King of Wei also came?"

  "Yes." Mei Qi replied, "And a regular customer, he has come more than once or twice. He is very considerate of our store."

  "Is it still being taken care of?" Qin Mu Bai silently pondered these few words, thinking to himself: This Li Tai is indeed full of tricks. He's in the imperial palace under the emperor's nose, can't get too close to any court officials, except for that one meeting and hasn't made contact with me again. Didn't expect him to make a detour and bring his favors all the way to Wu Mei Niang...

  [Recommended on the front page of a small seal, today there is an extra update, everyone's red ticket support, thank you!]

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